Light bulb adapter

ABSTRACT

A light bulb adapter is disclosed. The light bulb adapter has a main housing configured to house electronic circuits for wirelessly receiving controlling commands via WiFi from a user through the use of a software application installed in a mobile device. In operation, the user unplug a light bulb from an existing lighting fixture and plugs the light bulb plug of the light bulb adapter into the lighting fixture. A light bulb is inserted to the light bulb receptacle of the light bulb adapter. The user can connect a mobile device to the light bulb adapter over a wireless local area network via an accessory protocol and control the light bulb adapter, and subsequently the light bulb connected to it, using the accessory protocol.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120from U.S. application Ser. No. 14/978,975, filed Dec. 22, 2015 andtitled “LIGHT BULB ADAPTER”, which claims the benefit of priority under35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/100,046,filed Jan. 5, 2015 and titled “LIGHT BULB ADAPTER”, both of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This patent document relates to light bulb adapters and method of usethereof, and more particularly pertains to new and improved light bulbadapters that are capable of being wirelessly controlled.

Description of the Related Art

Lighting surrounds us nearly everywhere in today's business andresidential communities and provides appreciable benefits that we havecome to rely upon and expect in our day-to-day lives. In urban and homeenvironments, control switches are typically mounted on a wall or on achord to facilitate control of the light fixture. Such control switchescan be inconveniently located and are often left on resulting in wastedenergy. While integrated lighting management systems can allow forremote and automated control of lighting, such systems can be quitecostly and require installation of new fixtures and components tooperate, which render such systems out of financial reach for many wellintentioned consumers. In an going effort to continue to improve uponthe efficiencies, accessibility and usability of lighting fixtures, theinventors here have recognized a need for a light bulb adapter that isconfigured to connect to a lighting fixture and that can wirelesslycontrol the power to the light bulb via a user's mobile device, such asa smart phone or tablet computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There exists a continuing need for a light bulb adapter with built-incircuitry adapted to control the light bulb plugged therein wirelesslyvia a remote mobile electronic device such as a smart phone or tabletcomputer. The adaptor may also be controlled manually via interactiveexternally positioned switches or buttons. Some of the various aspectsdisclosed herein are summarized below.

In one aspect, a light bulb adapter comprises an upper portion or shelland a base that define an internal compartment or main housing thathouses electronic components and circuitry for controlling the adapter.The upper portion includes an external cavity that is configured toreceive and support a light bulb receptacle or socket on its externalsurface and the base is configured to include and outwardly protrudingsupport structure that is configured to receive and support a light bulbplug. The light bulb receptacle is configured to receive a light bulb.The light bulb plug is configured to connect to a corresponding lightingfixture. The shell has an outer side wall, an upper wall, an inner sidewall and a lower wall, wherein the inner side wall and the lower walldefine a cavity configured to surround and support the light bulbreceptacle. The base is configured to connect with the lower end regionof the outer wall of the shell to define the internal compartment ormain housing, which in turn is configured to house electronic circuitrythat wirelessly communicates with a user through a software applicationinstalled in a mobile device to control the power to the light bulb.

The configuration of the upper shell and base portion as well as themanner by which the upper shell portion is connected to the base portionconstitute additional aspects of the disclosed adaptor.

The manner by which the light bulb receptacle or socket components andthe light bulb plug components including the electrical contacts aremounted to the shell constitute yet other aspects of the disclosedadaptor.

The various electronic components and circuitry and their relativeposition within the housing and to one another constitute yet additionalaspects of the disclosed adaptor.

Functionality, position, and configuration of the user interfaces andindicators of constitute yet other additional aspects of the disclosedadaptor.

The methods of manufacture and use of the adaptor constitute yetadditional aspects of the disclosure.

The ornamental aspects of the external shape of the adaptor provide yetadditional aspects of the disclosure and may be independently pursuedthrough design patent protection.

Each of the foregoing various aspects summarized above and disclosedherein may be combined in any way without limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These aspects, particular features, and advantages are described belowwith reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate but notto limit the scope of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. Forease of reference, in the drawings, like reference characters denotecorresponding features in other drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a light bulbadapter.

FIG. 2A is a front-side view of the light bulb adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a left-side view of the light bulb adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2C is a rear-side view of the light bulb adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2D is a right-side view of the light bulb adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2E is a top view of the light bulb adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2F is a bottom view of the light bulb adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the light bulb adapter depicted in FIG.1 with the top shell portion removed to show the bulb receptacle/socketcomponents separated from the upper or top shell portion and the variouselectrical and mechanical structures and components contained within themain housing.

FIG. 3B is a right-side view of the light bulb adapter depicted in FIG.3A to further illustrated the various electrical and mechanicalstructures and components of the adaptor including the position antennaelements.

FIGS. 4A-4B are different perspective views of the light bulb adapterdepicted in FIGS. 1-2F with the top shell portion and the light bulbreceptacle/socket components also removed to further illustrate thevarious electrical and mechanical structures and components of theadaptor.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along 5A-5A of FIG. 1 to furtherillustrate the structure and components of the adaptor and theelectrical connection between the receptacle/socket (contained withinthe top shell portion) and the printed circuit board (“PCB”) securedwithin the primary housing that includes other electrical components andcircuitry. It also further illustrates in greater detail the electricalwires that connect the contacts of the screw-in light bulb plugsupported at the lower end region of the base portion and the PCB aswell as the vent hole 142 trenches 140 and the mechanical connection andattachment between the top shell and base and the PCB contained therein.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5A to furtherillustrate in more detail the light bulb receptacle/socket and the upperportion of the top shell including the vent trenches formed therein.

FIG. 6A is another cross-sectional view to further illustrated thestructure, configuration and components of the adaptor. The view istaken along 6A-6A of FIG. 1, which is further out from the vertical axisof the adaptor, around which the adaptor is symmetrically externallyconfigured.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6A to furtherillustrate in more detail construction of the top shell.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a light bulbadapter that includes a more cylindrically shaped top shellconfiguration but otherwise may include the same components andstructure as the prior embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the light bulb adapter depicted in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the light bulb adapter depicted in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10A shows a circuit block diagram of an exemplary implementation ofthe electronic circuits and components of the light bulb adapter ofFIGS. 1-6B or the light bulb adapter of FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 10B shows a circuit block diagram of another exemplaryimplementation of the electronic circuits and components of the lightbulb adapter of FIGS. 1-6B or the light bulb adapter of FIGS. 7-9.

FIGS. 11A-11D shows exemplary screen shots from a mobile deviceinstalled with software application for the light bulb adapter of FIGS.1-6B or the light bulb adapter of FIGS. 7-9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a light bulb adapter with built-inelectronic circuits configured to allow the user to control the lightbulb adapter, and subsequently the light bulb connected to it through asoftware application installed on a mobile device, such as a smart phoneor tablet computer. Manual control is also provided via user interfacebuttons or switches externally accessible.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-2F are the perspective, front-side, left-side,rear-side, right-side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a firstexemplary embodiment of a light bulb adapter 100. FIG. 3A-3B areperspective and side views, respectively, of the light bulb adapter ofFIGS. 1-2F with the top shell been removed to show the main housing andcomponents. FIG. 4A-4B are additional perspective views of the lightbulb adapter of FIGS. 1-2F with the top shell and the light bulbreceptacle and associated components removed to further show components,configuration, and structure of the adaptor.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4B, the light bulb adapter 100 comprises a lightbulb receptacle or socket 110, a light bulb base portion 120, an upperor top shell portion 130, and a main housing compartment 150 enclosed ordefined by the base support structure 126 of the base 120 and the uppershell 130 portions. The base and upper portions 120, 130 aremechanically connected to one another via tabs or protrusions 131 thatare spaced apart around the circumference of and extend from the bottomend region of the outer side wall 146 of the top shell portion 130 andengage or lock within slots 127 that are spaced apart around thecircumference of and formed within the upper end region of the supportstructure 126 of the lower base 120 in locations that correspond to tabsprotrusions 131 formed in the top shell portion 130. The top shell andlower base portions are connected to another by positioning the bottomend region of the top shell 130 onto the upper perimeter region of thesupport structure 126 of the base 120 and rotating the top shell 130relative to the support structure 126 of the base 120 so that the tabs131 are rotated into the slots 127 and the two components 120 and 130interlock with one another.

A printed circuit board 160 containing various electronic components andcircuitry resides on top of the base 120 support structure 126 with itsunderside supported thereby. To further secure the components intoposition screws 201 extending through sleeves 143 formed within the topshell 130 are secured within holes (having corresponding threads) formedwith the upper region of the base 126. The sleeves 143 are dimension toextend and lay atop the upper side of the PCB 160 so as to sandwich thePCB 160 between the bottom end of the sleeves 143 and the region of theupper region of the support structure 126 that forms the threaded holes.The sleeves further serve to insulate the screws 201 (which may bemetallic or formed out of non-conductive material) from the remainingelectrical circuitry contained within the housing.

Engagement between the base support structure 126 and the top shell 130can also be facilitated independently or in combination with theforegoing connection means by snap fit or other attaching mechanismslocated for example at the perimeter interface regions between the twoportions. The result is a multi-component housing configuration that iscapable of facilitating ease of manufacture and assembly of the adaptorwhile also capable of elegantly and efficiently securing the externaland internal components to one another in a durable manner by securingthe components at both their outer perimeter as well as centrally attheir inner core. Some implementations may only include one of theforegoing securing or attachment mechanisms or may include multiple orall of the foregoing securing or attachment mechanism either alone or incombination with other securing attachment mechanisms or means.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2E, the light bulb socket 110 includes a hotcontact 112 and a neutral contact 114 and is threaded to engage with acorrespondingly threaded light bulb base (not shown) that may be thesame size or a different size or a different type from that of the lightbulb base 120 of the adaptor 100. Thus, the adapter 100 may, forexample, include a plug 121 that is adapted to being threaded into alight fixture socket that is configured to receive a different lightbulb than the light bulb socket 110 of the adaptor 100. Alternatively,the adapter 100 may, as illustrated in the drawings, include a plug 121having a hot contact 122 and a neutral contact 124 that is adapted tobeing threaded into a light fixture socket that is configured to receivethe same light bulb as the light bulb socket 110 of the adaptor 100. Thehot contact, neutral contact and threads are formed of conductivematerial (e.g., metal) to allow for the needed electrical conductivityto facilitate transmission of power to a light bulb secured within thesocket 110.

The light bulb socket 110 and plug 121 may be a standard E26/27 mediumsocket and plug, respectively, that can be coaxially aligned with thelight bulb receptacle 110 and threaded to engage with a lighting fixtureor a conventional socket. Alternatively, the light bulb plug 121 may bea bi-pin socket and plug that is suitable for recessed lighting. Itshould be understood that other configurations of light bulb socket andplug can be used without deviation from the scope of this disclosure.

The light bulb socket 110 (or individual components thereof) is securedwithin the external cavity formed into the upper wall 148 of the topshell portion 130 via screws 202 that are secured to correspondingthreaded holes in the lower wall 149 of the top shell portion 130 thatforms the bottom of the light bulb socket cavity. The light bulb socket110 is further supported by the surrounding inner side wall 144 of thetop shell portion 130 that defines the light bulb socket cavity.

The base support structure 126 of the light bulb adapter base portion120 extends axially towards the hot contact 122 of the base portionincludes a threaded wall that is configured to engage with the threadedwalls that form the neutral contact 124 of the base portion. The basesupport structure 126 as well as the top shell portion 130 arepreferably made of an insulating or non-conducting material such as arigid plastic with heat resistive properties suitable to resist damagefrom heat emitted from an operating light bulb contained and powered bythe adapter.

FIGS. 5A through 6B provide cross-sectional and more detailed views thatillustrate the and base and shell structure and internal componentshoused therein. The inner side wall 144, an outer side wall 146, anupper wall 148 and a lower wall 149 together with the securing screwsand mechanisms previously described are particularly well illustrated inthose drawing.

The enlarged views illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 6B also provideparticularly good cross-sectional views of the trenches 140 and ventholes 142 that are provided on the upper wall 148 of the shell 130. Asbest shown in FIG. 6B, vents or vent holes 142 are included at both endsof the three trenches 140 illustrated. The vents 142 can providepathways for air circulation to dissipate heat in the main housing 150generated by the electronic components or from heat radiating from theoperation of the light bulb connected within the light bulb receptacle110.

Although the vents 142 as illustrated are provided at the ends of thetrenches 140, it is understood that the vents 142 can be provided at anyplace along the trenches 140 including on the side walls that form thetrenches so that they are elevated above the bottom the trench 140. Inone embodiment, the vents 142 are provided at the center and the ends ofthe trenches 140. In another embodiment, the length of the trenches 140themselves are formed as open as vents. It is also understood that thevents 142 can be provided at any place on the upper wall 148 of theshell 130. In one embodiment, the vents 142 are provided on the upperwall 148 where there is no trenches. It is also understood that thevents 142 can be provided at any place of the shell 130. In oneembodiment, the vents 142 are provided on the outer side wall 146 of theshell 130. Yet in another embodiment, the vents 142 are provided on thebase 126. It is understood that the vents 142 can be provided at anylocation described above or in any combination thereof. The trenches canprovide additional protection to the circuitry contained within theadaptor 100. For example liquid or other particulate matter may betrapped or captured by the vents and thereby precluded from entering theadaptor housing and damages the circuitry contained therein. Thesurfaces of the trenches may be engineered to assist in this process byincluding additional cavities and other mechanical barriers.

The main housing 150 can also be configured to thermally shield theelectronic circuit components therein from absorbing excessive heat fromthe light bulb that is connected to the light bulb receptacle 110.Examples of thermal shield include, but not limited to, dissipation,reflection or simply absorption of the heat. Thus, for example the upperwall 148 of the shell 130 may be formed of white color or a reflectivematerial to mitigate heat absorption by reflecting the light emitted bya light bulb operating in the adaptor 100 away from the adaptor 100. Thethermal shield may be formed by the upper wall 148 of the shell 130itself or via a coating or overlay on top of the upper wall 148.

As best shown in FIGS. 3A-4B, the main housing 150 defined by the innersurfaces of the base support structure 126 and top shell portions 130includes the PCB 160, which contains the electronic circuits andcomponents mounted thereon. The block diagrams of FIGS. 10A and 10Bprovide representative implementations of the circuitry and componentsthat may be employed in the adaptor 100.

With reference to FIG. 10A, the electronic circuits/components maycomprise a MCU (microcontroller unit) module 162, a WACIO/UART (widearea communications IO/universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter)module 166, a Triac circuit 170, and other circuit components, such asan AD/DC converter/transformer and isolator 168, a DC/DC regulator 169,a high resistant circuit 175, an input circuitry and an outputcircuitry, etc. further described in additional detail below.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the hot input L(in) 176 and neutral input N(in)182 are electrically connected to the hot contact 122 and neutralcontact 124, respectively, of the plug 121. The hot output L(out) 178and neutral output N(out) 184 are electrically connected to the hotcontact 112 and neutral contact 114, respectively, of the light bulbreceptacle 110. A shunt 186 is provided between the neutral input N(in)182 and the neutral output N(out) 184 to provide a low resistance path.

The MCU module 162 may serve as the main processor of the light bulbadapter 100 to perform system control and processing. The MCU 162includes a sleep mode to turn off power after a predetermined timeperiod of inactiveness and thereby may save power when the adapter isinadvertently left on for extended periods of time. When the WACIO/UARTmodule 166 receives a command (e.g., over WiFi or otherwise), forexample, to turn the light on, the MCU 162 is awaken by the Power (EN)signal 164.

The WACIO/UART module 166 is configured to establish connection to localarea network (LAN), manage wireless local area network connection, andperform security encryption. The WACIO/UART module 166 may link, forexample, to a wireless local area network via a protocol, such as theWAC and/or HomeKit from Apple. (HomeKit and Apple are trademarks ofApple Inc.) HomeKit is Apple's home automation framework, introducedwith operating system iOS 8, for developers for integrating homeautomation control applications into the iPhone/iPad/iPod, etc. (iOS isa trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc.; iPhone, iPad and iPod are trademarksof Apple Inc.)

The Triac circuit 170 may receive commands from the MCU 162 andsubsequently the WACIO/UART module and pass energy from the input, L(in)176, to the output, L(out) 178, accordingly. In addition, the Triaccircuit 170 can also turn the output on/off and/or dim the output andthereby serve as a dimmer circuit. In addition, the Triac circuit 170may monitor and report the amount of energy that is consumed by thelight bulb through power transmitted thereto via the adaptor 100 whenthe light bulb is connected to the light bulb receptacle 110. The Triaccircuit 170 can be constructed with an OP amplifier 171, a Triac driver172, a Triac (triode for alternating current) 173, and a capacitor 174as known by those skilled in the art.

The AD/DC converter 168 can convert step input power, for example,90-240 V AC to a level that is usable by the WACIO/UART module 166 at,for example, 3.3 V DC.

An exemplary placement of the modules/components is best shown in FIG.4A. An exemplary interconnection between modules or circuitry elementsare illustratively shown in FIG. 10A. The components are strategicallycompactly positioned to minimize the overall size of the light bulbadapter 100 so at to minimize interference while maintaining thecompatibility with existing and legacy lighting fixtures.

The electronic circuits described herein allow the user to control thelight bulb that is connected to the light bulb adapter 100 by using anaccessory protocol, for example, Apple's HomeKit application that isinstalled in a mobile device.

A manual bypass switch or button 132 which also connected to the PCB andaccessibly mounted externally on the shell 130 to allow the user tomanually control whether to bypass the application. When bypassed, thelight bulb adapter 100 functions to convey power to the light bulbreceived from the power source connected to the plug 121 that isconnected to a lighting fixture socket. An LED 134 is included withinthe bypass switch/button 132 to illuminate the switch/button and provideindication of the bypass status.

A WiFi indicator LED 136 can also be externally visibly surface mountedto the shell 130 to provide the network status. For example, when theLED 136 is blinking in a faster frequency, it indicates that it is inparing or discovering mode, while the LED 136 is blinking in a slowerfrequency, it indicates that the light bulb adapter 100 has been addedto the network. It can also be used to indicate whether a light bulb isplugged into the light bulb receptacle 110. While the LED 136 isillustrated as a separate indicator from LED 134 of the bypassswitch/button 132, it should that the LED indicator components could becombined and the meaning of indications distinguished either bydiffering color or differing emission frequency or both.

A reset button 194 also electrically attached to the PCB and mounted foruser accessibility (e.g., through a pin hole in the shell 120) isincluded to provide a mechanism for the user to reset the light bulbadapter 100 to a default status.

An antenna 190 and associated antenna cable 192, such as that suitablefor WiFi (or other wireless local area networks) can be placed in themain housing 150 or at the outer portion of the main housing tofacilitate the communications between light bulb adapter 100 and theuser via an accessory protocol, for example, iOS and the HomeKitapplication. The antenna 190 can be configured to ensure efficientsignal propagation, and to ensure the signal is not affected by heatgenerated from light bulb that is plugged into the light bulb adapter100.

To ensure efficient signal propagation and connectivity the antenna ispositioned on the perimeter region of the main housing 150 andpreferably away from to the extent possible for the high power in line(L (in)) and perhaps shielded therefrom. It may also be mounted onto theinner surface and/or outer surface of the housing and/or embedded intothe housing directly at one or more regions thereof (e.g., upper orlower regions of shell 130 and/or base support structure 126). Thus, ina preferred implementation the antenna is connected to the outwardlyfacing surface of the WACIO-UART Module 166, which is in the shape of apanel and is mounted on end to the PCB board. The antenna 190 can beconnected to the module 166 via a co-axial cable and attached orincorporated into an adhesive substrate that can be adhesively attachedto the inner surface of the shell 130, for example, on the inner surfaceof the outer side wall 146. The WACIO-UART Module 166 not only connectsthe antenna 190 to the functional control circuitry contained on and inthe PCB but also may serve as a shield protecting the antenna 190 fromundesired interference.

In manufacture, the assembled PCB board 160 and components thereof arepreferably positioned onto the upper support platform of base supportstructure 126, the antenna 190 is then positioned and secured to theinner surface of the outer side wall 146 via the adhesive substrate (seealso FIG. 4A). The other externally mounted components can be positionedrelative to the shell 130 to align with or within the correspondingwindows and holes in the shell 130. The shell 130 can then be secured tothe base support structure 126 over the PCB 160 and secured or mountedto one another as previously described above with the interlocking tabsand groove/slots 131, 127 and screws 201. The light bulbreceptacle/socket 110 components 112 and 114 can be secured within thesocket cavity (defined by the lower and inner side walls 139 and 144)extending into the upper wall 148 the shell 130 as previously describedwith the screws 202 either before and/or after securing the top shell130 to the base support structure 126. The hot and neutral contacts 122,124 of the plug can be screwed onto the threaded region of the lower endregion base support structure 126 as previously described either beforeor after securing the top shell 130 to the base support structure 126.The wires connecting the hot and neutral contacts 112, 122 and 114, 124connect those elements to the PCB 160.

The circuitry of the adaptor 100 is powered by the existing power sourceto the light fixture.

In the present embodiment, the electrical components are strategicallypositioned to avoid electrical interference. For example, high powercomponents (e.g., input L(in) 176, output L(out) 178) are positionednear the central area on PCB 160 while low power components (e.g., MCU162) are positioned away from the central area on PCB 160, in additionto provide compactness to the light bulb adapter 100 in overall size.

FIG. 10B shows another circuit block diagram of exemplary electroniccircuits built into the light bulb adapter of FIGS. 1-6B or the lightbulb adapter of FIGS. 7-9. The components shown in FIG. 10B largelycorrespond to those described above in connection with FIG. 10A. Thecircuitry described in FIG. 10B, however, employs a meter module 198 andrelay 196 to perform similar function as that of the Triac circuit 170of the circuit described in connection with FIG. 10A.

An application software that is installed in a mobile device can beprovided to the user to further effectuate the control and to allow theuser to schedule events (tasks) for the connected light bulb. Forexample, the user can set an event that turns the light bulb on everyMonday evening at 6:00 PM. Furthermore, the application may allow theuser to assign “rooms” and “zones” where one or more light bulb adaptersare located.

Generally, in operation, the user unplugs a light bulb from a lightingfixture and plugs or threads in the light bulb plug 121 of the adapter100 into the lighting fixture. The user then plugs in the light bulb ora different light bulb into the light bulb receptacle 110 of the adapter100. The user connect his/her mobile device, such as a smart phone totablet computer, to the electronic circuits built in the light bulbadapter 100 over a wireless local area network, such as WiFi, via anaccessory protocol, for example, Apple's HomeKit with iOS 8. Onceconnected the user is able to control the light bulb adapter 100, andsubsequently the light bulb connected to it, using the accessoryprotocol.

The application software can be configured to allow the user to assign alocation, home, etc., to the light bulb adapter 100. In addition, theapplication software can be configured to allow the user to assign thelight bulb adapter 100 to a room within the home. In addition, theapplication software can be configured to allow the user to setschedules, for example, when the light bulb adapter 100 is to turns thelight bulb on/off and for what duration of time. FIG. 11A shows anexemplary screen shot taken from the screen of a mobile device installedwith the application software where a light bulb adapter is assigned aname Window Light.

Through the accessory protocol, the user is able to command the lightbulb adapter 100 to control the function of the light bulb adapter 100.In one embodiment, the user is able to command the light bulb adapter100 by using a voice recognition software application, for example,Apple's Siri to control the function of the light bulb adapter 100.(Siri is a trademark of Apple Inc.) For example, the user can commandSiri to turn the Window Light of FIG. 11A on by commanding “Siri, turnthe Window Light on.”

In one embodiment, the user is able to command the light bulb adapter100 to turn the light bulb plugged into the light bulb adapter 100on/off. In one embodiment, when a compatible light bulb is connected tothe light bulb adapter 100, the user is able to control the intensity(i.e., dimming) of the light bulb by controlling the amount of power theadapter 100 conveys to the light bulb. As shown in the exemplary screenshot of FIG. 11B, where the adapter conveys 100% of power to the lightbulb.

Multiple adapters may be employed and controlled in a single residencesor place of business or even in a single room. Thus, the user is able tocontrol one or multiple adapters through the accessory protocolapplication, for example, HomeKit application with iOS. FIG. 11C showsan exemplary screen shot taken from the screen of a mobile deviceinstalled with the application software where the user can see a list ofrooms he/she created in his or her home, Ahmed's office in this example.From this view, the user can edit room attributes by selecting the roomfrom the list. FIG. 11D shows an exemplary screen shot taken from thescreen of a mobile device installed with the application software wherezone view is shown. Users can group rooms together into a zone, MainFloor, in this example. From this view, the user is able to edit aZone's attributes by selecting the desired zone from the list.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-11D and the methods of usedescribed herein provide unique solutions that are capable of allowing auser to transform a light fixture, into which this adapter 100 and alight bulb are affixed, into a remotely controlled fixture that iscompatible to an accessory protocol such as Apple's HomeKit andcontrolled through remotely wirelessly via WiFi.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention havebeen shown and described in detail, other modifications, which arewithin the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those ofskill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplatedthat various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific featuresand aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within thescope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood thatvarious features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can becombined with or substituted for one another in order to form varyingmodes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope ofthe present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular disclosed embodiments described above, but should bedetermined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.

Similarly, this method of disclosure, is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that any claim require more features than areexpressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than allfeatures of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claimsfollowing the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporatedinto this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light bulb adapter comprising: a light bulbreceptacle configured to receive a light bulb; a light bulb plugconfigured to connect to a lighting fixture; a shell having an outerside wall, an upper wall, an inner side wall and a lower wall, the innerside wall and the lower wall are configured to surround and support thelight bulb receptacle; and a base configured to engage with theperimeter region of the outer wall of the shell to form a main housing,wherein the main housing that encloses electronic circuits that areconfigured to wirelessly receive commands over WiFi from a mobileelectronic device to control the function of the light bulb adapter. 2.The light bulb adapter of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitscomprises a MCU (microcontroller unit) module, a WACIO/UART (wide areacommunications IO/universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter)module, and a meter module.
 3. The light bulb adapter of claim 2,wherein the WACIO/UART module establish connection to local area network(LAN), manage wireless local area network connection, and performsecurity encryption.
 4. The light bulb adapter of claim 2, wherein themeter module monitors and reports the amount of energy that is consumedby the light bulb that is connected to the light bulb receptacle.
 5. Thelight bulb adapter of claim 1, wherein the light bulb adapter furthercomprises an antenna for receiving the commands.
 6. The light bulbadapter of claim 1, wherein the commands are generated from a voicerecognition software application.
 7. The light bulb adapter of claim 1,wherein the function of the light bulb adapter is to turn the light bulbon/off.
 8. The light bulb adapter of claim 1 further comprising at leastone vent opened through the upper wall of the shell.
 9. The light bulbadapter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vents.
 10. Thelight bulb adapter of claim 9, wherein the light bulb adapter furthercomprises a trench having two ends and a center portion in between theends, wherein the trench is opened at the upper wall, and wherein atleast one of the plurality of vents is located at one of the two ends ofthe trench.
 11. A light bulb adapter comprising: a light bulb receptacleconfigured to receive a light bulb; a light bulb plug configured toconnect to a lighting fixture; a shell configured to support the lightbulb receptacle; a vent opened through the shell; and a base configuredto engage with the shell to form a main housing, wherein the mainhousing is configured to house electronic circuits that are configuredto wirelessly receive commands from an user through a softwareapplication installed in a mobile device to control the function of thelight bulb adapter.
 12. The light bulb adapter of claim 11, wherein thevent is opened through an upper wall of the shell.
 13. The light bulbadapter of claim 12, wherein the light bulb adapter further comprises atrench opened through the upper wall of the shell and having two ends,and wherein the vent is located at one of the two ends of the trench.14. A method for controlling a light bulb adapter through softwareapplication, said method comprising: plugging in a light bulb adapter toa lighting fixture; wirelessly connecting a mobile device to the lightbulb adapter, the light bulb adapter has a shell and at least one ventopened at the upper wall of the shell; and controlling the light bulbadapter through a software application installed in the mobile device.15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of: commandingthe light bulb adapter through a second software application installedin the mobile device.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the secondsoftware application is a voice recognition software application.